Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The reflexive excitation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to psychological stress leads to elevated blood pressure, a condition that persists even after the stress has been alleviated. This sustained increase in blood pressure, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension, could be linked to neural plasticity in sympathetic nervous activity. Given the critical role of astrocytes in various forms of neural plasticity, we investigated their involvement in maintaining elevated blood pressure during the post-stress phase. Specifically, we examined the effects of arundic acid, an astrocytic inhibitor, on blood pressure and heart rate responses to air-jet stress. First, we confirmed that the inhibitory effect of arundic acid is specific to astrocytes. Using c-Fos immunohistology, we then observed that psychological stress activates neurons in cardiovascular brain regions, and that this stress-induced neuronal activation was suppressed by arundic acid pre-treatment in rats. By evaluating astrocytic process thickness, we also confirmed that astrocytes in the cardiovascular brain regions were activated by stress, and this activation was blocked by arundic acid pre-treatment. Next, we conducted blood pressure measurements on unanesthetized, unrestrained rats. Air-jet stress elevated blood pressure, which remained high for a significant period during the post-stress phase. However, pre-treatment with arundic acid, which inhibited astrocytic activation, suppressed stress-induced blood pressure elevation both during and after stress. In contrast, arundic acid had no significant impact on heart rate. These findings suggest that both neurons and astrocytes play integral roles in stress-induced blood pressure elevation and its persistence after stress, offering new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying hypertension.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institutions: Murayama Medical Center, University of Yamanashi, Shimane University, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Fujita Health University, SHOWA Medical University, International University of Health and Welfare, Kyoto University, Toyo University, Nippon Medical School, University of Opole
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,590
Awards: Analysis of respiratory rhythm generation triggered by medullary astrocytes, Investigation of a mechanism of prolonged activation induced by electronic stimulation of hypothalamus, Investigation of the role of glial cells in prolonged sympathetic nervous system activation induced by stress stimuli, Mathematical Understanding of lnformation Processing Mechanism in the Brain by lnteraction of Glial and Neuronal Networks, The pathophysiology of respiratory disturbance associated with exercise-induced heat shock and its preventive measures, The role of astrocytes in generation of locomotive rhythm in the lumbar spinal cord, Identification and elucidation of neural circuits causing hypertension associated with obstructive sleep apnea, Role of glial cells in the neural mechanism of blood pressure elevation during exercise stress, Hypothalamus and Respiratory Regulation: A Basic Study about the Mechanism of Respiratory Disorders in Pediatric Patients with Hypothalamic Disease, 4D Registration of small animals to analyze brain function
OpenAlex ID: W4403103213